Tile Flange, Caulking, and Finishing the Walls Around Your Walk-In Tub

A tile flange for a walk-in tub is not built into Ella tubs, which have a flat deck edge, so you add one at installation. To get a watertight finish where the tub meets the wall, glue a thin tile flange to the tub edge with 100% silicone before the tub is pushed into place, run your tile or wall panel down over the flange and onto the deck, and finish every joint with silicone caulk. Ella's Bubbles offers a flexible glue-up tile flange as an accessory, and any thin, rust-proof, waterproof strip will also do the job. This article walks through the flange, the sealant, and the wall finishing choices that follow.

Which Tile Flange Do I Need?

Ella's Bubbles offers the Flexible Glue-Up Tile Flange for walk-in tubs, shower bases, and bathtubs without a built-in flange. It is supplied as a 124 inch long strip, which our team describes as the standard length, and it is described at ellasbubbles.com/walk-in-tubs/accessories/glue-up-tile-flange/. Because it is a small accessory, it ships separately from the tub by parcel carrier rather than by freight. When you request one through your Ella dealer or the team at (800) 480-6850, mention your tub model so the fit can be confirmed.

If you prefer to source your own, the requirement is simple: any thin (1/8 inch or 3/16 inch) rust-proof and waterproof material such as acrylic, thin stainless steel, or a fiberglass strip can serve as a tile flange. The strip should be approximately 5 inches tall, glued to the edge of the tub so that it overlaps the tub edge by about 2 inches, which gives you a proper water barrier. A contractor can also supply one.

Is 124 inches enough? Measure the total run of tub edge that will touch a wall, which is the back wall plus each end wall that the tub sits against. As an example, a 52 inch tub with a 30 inch width set into a standard 60 inch alcove has a combined run of roughly 120 inches once the extension panel side is included, so one strip normally covers it. For wider or longer tubs, corner installations with only two walls, or unusual layouts, take your measurement first and ask for the length you need.

Installing the Flange, Step by Step

1. Complete the pre-installation water test and confirm the tub is level with every leveling leg touching the floor (see the leveling guide) before you finish any walls.
2. Clean the tub edge where the flange will sit so the silicone bonds well.
3. Glue the flange to the edge of the tub with 100% silicone, keeping the strip about 5 inches tall and overlapping the tub edge by roughly 2 inches.
4. Do this before pushing the walk-in tub against the wall into its final position.
5. Let the silicone cure, then finish the walls so the tile or panel overlaps both the flange and the deck.
6. Apply silicone-based caulking to all joints once the tub is installed.

The video above from our Tech Support playlist shows the glue-up tile flange being fitted to a walk-in tub edge, and it pairs well with our general Walk-In Tubs Installation Tips and Recommendations video, which covers leveling, supply lines, and the extended fill test that should happen before the walls are closed up. Watch: Installing a Glue-Up Tile Flange: Step-by-Step with chapters and a full transcript.

Can I Tile Down Onto the Deck?

Yes. A common approach is to set the tub against the studs, add the tile flange, and then proceed with a standard tile installation, with the tile running down over the flange and onto the flat deck. From that point it is just like a regular tub tile job. The tub can be finished and tiled over, and caulking must be applied to the joints as needed after the tub is installed.

One practical tip from our team: the front apron and its access panels stay removable only if nothing is tiled in front of them. Keep tile, trim, and flooring clear of the apron so you can still reach the pumps and plumbing later; our service access planning article explains why.

Can Wall Panels or Tile Go over Existing Tile?

In many cases, yes. Existing wall tiles can stay in place when the tub is installed, as long as they are in good condition and properly sealed. Have your installer assess the area to make sure it is suitable and will not cause problems with water sealing or fit. Our cultured marble panels can be glued directly over existing tile, which is covered in our wall panels and surrounds article.

Groutless PVC Tiles: A Grout-Free Wall Option

Watch: Ella's Bubbles: Grout-less Tongue & Groove PVC Carrara Tile Installation with chapters and a full transcript.

If you would rather not grout, this video shows the tongue-and-groove PVC Carrara tiles going up over a new or existing surface: measure, score, and snap each tile to size, apply adhesive to the back, run a thin bead of silicone at each joint for a watertight seal, then set and snap the tile into place. Start from a level line at the tile flange and work up, hiding cut edges at the corners and ceiling. Our wall kits and tiles installation guide has the full sequence.

What Sealant Should I Use?

• Use 100% silicone to bond the tile flange to the tub edge.
• Use silicone-based caulking at every joint between the tub, the flange, and the wall finish.
• If you are installing the tongue-and-groove PVC tiles, place a thin bead of silicone at each joint for a watertight seal.

Please note that Ella's Bubbles does not sell trim pieces, corner trims, or 96 inch trim kits. Any tile shop or tile outlet carries suitable corner and edge trim for waterproofing the seams where surfaces meet.

Do I Need the Tile Flange with Tile, Wall Panels or a Surround?

The tile flange kit is optional on an Ella walk-in tub. Our team recommends it for any wall finish that meets the tub, whether that finish is tile, an acrylic wall surround or a wall kit with a storage shelf. Ella walk-in tubs do not have a raised tile lip. The rim edge turns down so water runs straight down the face of the tub, and the flange adds a thin barrier that seals to the tub and to the wall so water cannot get behind the tub, into the gap you cannot reach to clean or dry.

Customers often assume the flange is only for tiled walls. It is not. It works the same way with any kind of wall surround, including the acrylic wall surround kit with a storage shelf, because the flange sits behind whatever material you choose. With a surround kit it is not strictly necessary, but we still recommend it as an extra layer of leak protection.

The kit is made deliberately thin so tile, panels or a surround can be installed directly over it without a visible bump. The flange goes on before the wall finish so the finish overlaps it, and your installer decides the exact sequence for your walls.

The kit is designed for Ella tubs. We cannot confirm how it would connect to another manufacturer's tub or wall, so check with your installer before relying on it for a non-Ella tub.

Related Guides

• How Shower Wall Edges Are Finished: 2-Inch Bends on White CNC Walls and Trim Options
• Installing a Walk-In Tub in a Wet Room: Keeping the Electrical Compartment Dry
• Hairline Lines Around a Hole Cut in the Tub Deck: Why They Appear and Why They Do Not Spread
• What Is the Hole at the Edge of My Shower Wall Panel and How Do I Close It?
• Common Installation Questions: Tile Order, Leveling Legs, Subfloor, Panels, Drain Size and the Outdoor Test
• What is a shower flange and what does it do?

Common Questions

Have a question that depends on your exact model or configuration? Open a ticket at ellasbubbles.com/support or call (800) 480-6850 and our technical support team will be glad to help you and your installer.